How can any candidate running for political office be proud of gaining an elected office with 464 votes out of a possible 7,000 plus eligible voters?
That hardly sounds like a "mandate" or a "landslide" victory.
When are the voters of Hartford going to wake up and realize nothing is going to change if they themselves don't change?
It is also a travesty that over $50,000 was most likely spent on administering a Special Election and resulted in such poor turnout.
I am not really sure why people accept this as normal. Are we that tone deaf to what is going on in our City? Or are we willing to allow people who know how to reserve a moving van to become eligible to run for open seats without really spending much time in the areas they want to represent?
Again, let me say, nothing is going to change until we change and take control of our City.
Once again, line A is victory. 10 or so members of the 4th district DTC selected the candidate, and by placing him on the top line, he enjoyed an unsurmountable advantage.
ReplyDeleteInacio ran a solid campaign, but the party endorsement is the gold standard. While Kevin may say 464 voters made the choice, I say the election happened when 10 or so party insiders voted for Julio over Jessica. Yesterday's vote was a rubber stamp, an illusion of democratic choice.
The DTC and power brokers prefer that only 464 or however many voters turned out to vote for Julio. More people participating means a weaker grip on the levers of control for them.
This state of affairs resembles the worst excesses of a Taiwan or a Soviet Politburo. It is a reflection of the democracy that allows a Trump to declare la sol c'est moi and suffer no immediate consequences.
Our system of self governance is in a state of decay, and we have much hard work ahead of us removing the bacteria, drilling out the cavities, fortifying what structures remain, and filling in the holes.
Good luck America, we need it.
Kevin, you always hit the nail on the head. Hartford politics is an absolute disgrace. I mean look, Luke Bronin, a Greenwich native, was elected the City of Hartford Mayor. He purchased that eloquent home in Downtown Hartford in 2012. So you mean to tell me in three years he was able to understand Hartford’s problems. Give me a break! How does that even happen?! Kevin, there is so much that is wrong in this city I think if people knew the absolute truths it would probably bother them. It’s unfortunate but most politicians in Hartford want only one thing, “personal gain.” They are not worried about problems and issues. It’s how many voters can I get to get elected or re-elected. Additionally, the Democratic party and Working Families Party have been the prevailing parties for a number of years. What has gotten better if anything? Budget, taxes, crime, quality of life? It is absolutely up to the residents if they want things to change. We will see what happens in November 2018.
ReplyDeleteKevin, you always hit the nail on the head. Hartford politics is an absolute disgrace. I mean look, Luke Bronin, a Greenwich native, was elected the City of Hartford Mayor. He purchased that luxurious home in Downtown Hartford in 2012. So you mean to tell me in three years he was able to understand Hartford’s problems. Give me a break! How does that even happen?! Kevin, there is so much that is wrong in this city I think if people knew the absolute truths it would probably bother them. It’s unfortunate but most politicians in Hartford want only one thing, “personal gain.” They are not worried about problems and issues. It’s how many voters can I get to get elected or re-elected. Additionally, the Democratic party and Working Families Party have been the prevailing parties for a number of years. What has gotten better if anything? Budget, taxes, crime, quality of life? It is absolutely up to the residents if they want things to change. We will see what happens in November 2018.
ReplyDeleteIt will never change. Hartford voters make their choices by skin color and residency, not by their qualifications. Until people start voting for the most qualified candidates instead of worrying if they are from Hartford and what neighborhood they reside in, things will remain the same. Very sad situation.
ReplyDeleteHey Kev, I bet my house that if you offered the 6536 that didn’t vote a bonus of $100 on their EBT cards they would’ve shown up . It’s sad that so many “legal” Hartford residents are so proud to have been born somewhere else in the world don’t appreciate or value their right to vote as an AMERICAN. My immigrant grandparents were more patriotic than most of the past couple of generations that were born on U.S. mainland soil. I don’t know if it’s more disgusting than sad?
ReplyDeleteHey Kev, I bet my house that if you offered the 6536 that didn’t vote a bonus of $100 on their EBT cards they would’ve shown up . It’s sad that so many “legal” Hartford residents are so proud to have been born somewhere else in the world don’t appreciate or value their right to vote as an AMERICAN. My immigrant grandparents were more patriotic than most of the past couple of generations that were born on U.S. mainland soil. I don’t know if it’s more disgusting than sad?
ReplyDeleteHartford IS and ALWAYS WAS a mess, political or not, ALWAYS a mess.
ReplyDelete$50,000 to get the preferred candidate in. What a waste of money...and how sad that so few people voted.
ReplyDeleteI wish the Registrar of Voters would spend some time and money on real community outreach...our citizens need education on voting to increase the level of engagement.
I really hope that the residents of Hartford wake up and vote out current administration. This needs to be done for the sake of the children of our city, who our Mayor, Super and BOE use as stepping stones. People who truly care about our future leaders would not be leaving the schools in shambles and in the hands of incompetence. Nothing will change with these "leaders" in power. They don't care about the kids or the residents- they care about their paychecks and making names for themselves professionally and politically.
ReplyDelete